I am working on an assignment. I am trying to select a primary turf grass for a golf course in South West England... Here are the parameters: An 18-hole course recently constructed a parkland in South West England. Local soils, predominantly clay in texture, were used in construction of tees and greens, while fairways were ploughed and rotavated on the existing land. Rainfall and pH levels are high (7.5 - 8.0). There are many mature trees existing on site, in particular separating the fairways and surrounding the greens. Marketing surveys indicate an estimated 55,000 rounds per year within 3 years. I have been pondering lately the wisdom of selecting a Perennial Variety of Bluegrass "poa" . The idea came from here. I am a little concerned because almost every source of published information that I have found would prefer to eradicate poa annua altogether rather than build a green from it. I am totally new at this type of thing. Any help would be great.
Poa annua (Annual Meadow-grass) is, as its name suggests, an annual species, which dies in the autumn and re-grows from seeds in the spring. This makes it unsuitable as a lawn grass. Some other species of Poa are perennial, such as Poa pratensis (Smooth Meadow-grass) and Poa trivialis (Rough Meadow-grass); these are suitable for lawns, as they don't die in winter.
I am a little concerned because almost every source of published information that I have found would prefer to eradicate poa annua altogether rather than build a green from it. Yes...but you've no doubt heard if you can't beat 'em, join 'em... Many golf courses are now seeding their greens to poa. Traditional bentgrass simply cannot compete with poa (which comes in on golfers' shoes from other courses). You'll always find signs of poa invasion beginning at #1 tee box/fairway and #1 green. Within a couple of years it's on all greens (easily distinguished from the dark green bentgrass by poa's yellowish, almost chlorotic appearance. Poa seedheads often grow BELOW reel/bedknife height setting on aprons so it's a losing battle. Poa's growth habit is different from bentgrass, so a green that's, say, 30% bentgrass after a few years of poa invasion will be virtually unmanageable (poa grows fast and in a vertical habit, versus the descriptive bent form of the grass it is invading). At that point courses often reseed to 100% poa because the 30/70 mixture adversely affects playing speed. While I don't know much about others, I do know that Pencross Bentgrass will never win a battle with Poa. A benefit of poa is that it'll never allow moss to invade, whereas bentgrass isn't always successful, especially after a particularly vigorous aerating/top dressing.
That does make good sense, "if you can't beat em join em". However one of the factors mentioned by the Kinapella Golf club website was that a poa annua or annual bluegrass produces too many seeds and makes the greens bumpy. He does refer to a perennial poa but I haven't found a specific variety name that matches that description. Do you know which type of poa is being seeded?
Sorry can't help you there. I'm completely unfamiliar with new releases. You may wish to try one of the large seed suppliers, like Pickseed Canada's link: http://www.turfone.com/ Or ask the Royal Canadian Golf Association http://www.rcga.org/ if they could supply a turfseed link. Re the Kinapella reason "too many seeds and bumpy greens". I do know that is ridiculous! 100% poa greens are among THE fastest greens (ever played Kelowna Golf & Country Club ????. On one occasion there last year, I'd swear they were running at 11 or 12 on the stimp). Kinapella need to know how to get poa fast...hire the best maintenance mechanic you can afford; he'll maintain the optimum cutting height and machinery maintenance that all greens (especially poa) require. But... Their reference to bumpy greens is because poa grows faster than bent, so after the routine 7 a.m. mowing, by noon the poa needs cutting again whereas the bent is fine until the next morning. That's the reason for my previous 30% poa/ 70% bent greens comment. That's also why courses are getting rid of 30/70 greens and reseeding directly to poa.
By far the most likely are Poa pratensis (Smooth Meadow-grass) and Poa trivialis (Rough Meadow-grass) - they are the two abundant perennial Poa species in Britain.
